Meanwhile, Paxman, Britain’s bravest and most incisive interviewer, pictured left, makes what is certain to be a popular return to the festival to talk about ‘post-truth politics’ and the art of the interviewer.

Former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine speaks about the evolution of the garden at his Thenford estate.

The 2017 festival takes place between Saturday March 25 and Sunday April 2. You can book online on this website, at our new telephone box office on 0333 666 3366*, or in person at Oxford Visitor Information Centre*, Broad Street, Oxford.

* A £1.50 agent’s booking fee applies to all bookings made by phone and at the visitor information centre.

Creative writing course returns

The festival sees the return of our popular one-day writing course, this year titled Only Connect: A One-Day Writing Workshop.

Designed by and featuring two professional writers with long experience of teaching at university level, Jem Poster and Sarah Burton, the programme will address the writer’s art and craft in practical and thought-provoking ways, involving both writing and the discussion of writing.

A stimulating and rewarding on-stage conversation; a lively informed and tolerant audience; privileged access to the great treasures of the Bodleian, and finally, wonderfully interesting dinner companions to help me conclude the best day I have enjoyed at any festival – anywhere.

Peter Carey, twice Booker Prize winner

I came away buzzing and reassured that we still have in this century a wide ranging community fascinated not just by famous authors (I’ve rarely seen so many concentrated in one place) but by challenging ideas and questions.

Kazuo Ishiguro, Booker Prize-winning author of Remains of the Day

Often as an author, I only occasionally get to meet the public who buy and read my books. The Oxford Literary Festival was a special opportunity for me and certainly one of the highlights of my career – it was an honour I will never forget.

Ken Hom, American Chinese chef and cookery writer

The Oxford Literary Festival has in my mind become the leading literary festival of the year. The organisation, the roster of speakers, the ambience and the sheer quality of it all is superb. May it now go from strength to strength each year stretching its ambition more and more. I believe it will.

Tim Waterstone, founder of the Waterstones bookshop chain

It was a privilege for me to visit the festival to receive the Bodley Medal. As an incidental blessing I saw Oxford at its most mysterious and atmospheric. It was a day of piercing cold and as I walked through the twilight from the Sheldonian to Christ Church, the streets were empty and the whole city was shutting itself away. Christ Church was silent except for the footfall of unseen persons around corners and the sounds of evensong creeping from behind closed doors. For the first time I understood thoroughly the power of college ghost stories.

Dame Hilary Mantel, twice Booker Prize winner

I loved the whole atmosphere of the Oxford Literary Festival. From breakfast, alongside some of the attendees, who were talking books with each other a mile a minute, to the public event at The Sheldonian where everyone was lively and engaged – I felt I had arrived in a kind of literary heaven.

Anne Tyler, celebrated American novelist

The night in Oxford was the most beautiful event I have ever done. Not just the spectacular setting (of the Sheldonian), but an unforgettable evening.